Self-leveling motor carrier for grain elevators



Jul 1e 3, 1952 BELDIN 2,598,880

SELF-LEVELING MOTOR CARRIER FOR GRAIN ELEVATORS Filed Nov. 22,, 1948 w ly/4 INVENTOR. R. L. BEL Dl/V Patented June 3, 1952 SELF-LEVELING MOTOR CARRIER FOR GRAIN ELEVATORS Royal L. Beldin, Davenport, Iowa, assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 22, 1948, Serial No. 61,385

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a material-handling device and more particularly to such device as represented by that class of machines commonly known as small grain elevators and used primarily on farms for elevating grain and similar material from one height to another.

I The usual elevator of this type comprises a supporting structure in the form of a wheeled truck having a frame on which is fulcrumed an elongated elevator tube or similar structure. Means is provided for elevating or depressing the elevator tube to vary the angle of inclination thereof with respect to the horizontal. Ordinarily, the elevator tube will include an endless conveyor or its equivalent which is powered by either a source apart from the elevator or a source carried by the elevator, the former of which is ordinarily power developed by the belt pulley of a tractor or similar power unit. In those cases in which the motor is mounted directly on the elevator, such motor may be either an electric motor or an internal combustion engine. In cases in which an internal combustion engine is used, it is important that the general level of the engine be maintained regardless of the angle of inclination of the elevator, the reason for which will be obvious. In the past, it has been customary to provide a carrier or motor mount for the engine and to provide manually operated means for adjusting the engine carrier to maintain the level thereof as the angle of the elevator is changed.

The present invention contemplates and has for a principal object a motor carrier or mount which is so arranged with respect to the elevator and its supporting structure or truck as to be self-leveling regardless of the elevation or depression of the elevator tube. This result is accomplished simply and inexpensively by interconnecting the motor carrier and supporting structure so that relative movement between the elevator tube and supporting structure effects the necessary accommodation of the carrier to any angle of the elevator tube. A further object of the invention is to adapt the construction in such manner that it may be readily attached to certain elevators of existing types. Further objects reside in the provision of means for guiding the carrier as the elevator tube is shifted relative thereto.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art as a preferred form of the invention is fully disclosed in the following detailed description and accompanying sheet of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a representative type of grain elevator, a portion of the elevator tube being broken away to show the drivable conveyor therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1, oer tain external portions being omitted to disclose the controlling or adjusting means;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, as viewed substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on the same scale as that of Figure 3, and taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the guiding means as viewed from the inside thereof along the line 55 of Figure 4.

The general elevator construction illustrated is merely representative of many forms that the elevator could assume, and it is not intended that the specific illustration in any way limit the application of the invention. The material-handling device or elevator comprises supporting structure designated generally by the numeral Ill and is here in the form of a Wheeled truck including a transverse axle II on which is carried a pair of laterally spaced wheels I2 (only one of which is shown). The supporting structure on the truck includes frame members or sections, one of which is a generally upright support or member I 3 carried at one end by the axle I I and pivoted at M to material-handling means in the form of an elongated elevator tube I5. The other section comprises an elevating means in the form of a derrick I6 pivoted at one end on the axle II and having at its other end roller or guide means I! engageable with the underside of an upper portion of the elevator tube I5.

The elevator tube includes a receiving or boot end I8 which normally rests on or near the ground and further has an upper or discharge end I9 which may be provided with a conventional discharge chute 20. The pivot I4 provides a fulcrum on a generally transverse axis about which the elevator tube I5 may be elevated ordepressed to vary the angle or inclination thereof with respect to the horizontal. The means for accomplishing the elevation and depression of the elevator tube may be of any conventional form, here shown as manually operated winding mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 2i, having a hand crank 22 and cable 23, the latter being connected to the upper or roller end of the frame member I6. It will be obvious that the winding mechanism may be utilized to raise or 3 lower the derrick [6 to effect raising or lowering of the elevator tube [5.

As indicated in Figure 1, the elevator tube may include therewithin drivable means in the form of a conveyor 24 for elevatin grain or material from the boot H! to the discharge chiit 20. The particular structure in this respect forms no part of the present invention and is shown merely for illustrative purposes. Hence, this construction will be but briefly described.

The conveyor 24 is driven from its lower end by means of a pulley r sprocket 25 which may be driven by a belt or chain 26 from a power source, here indicated'as an internal combustion engine 2?. The particular type of engine forms no part of the present invention and will not therefore be described in detail.

The engine 2'! has a base 23 which is supported on a motor mount or carrier 29. The mounting of the carrier 29 on the elevator tube 1 is pivotal and this pivot axis is provided by means of a transverse shaft 39 mounted in bearings '31 in supporting structure including a pair of upstanding plates or brackets 32 (only one of which apbears in the drawings). Each plate 32 is rigidly secured to the elevator tube I5, as by welding at 33 (Figure 3). The shaft 30, in addition to providing a, pivotal mounting for the carrier 29, also comprises part of the drive means for the conveyor 24, having at one end thereof a large pulley 34 and at its opposite end a small pulley 35. The engine has a power shaft 36 to which is keyed a pulley 3?. A belt 38 interconnects the pulleys 34 and 3?. The belt 25, previously described, conmeets the pulley 35 with the pulley or sprocket at the lower end of the conveyor 24. The purpose in the provision of the shaft 38 on the pivot axis of the carrier is to avoid variations in the length of either belt 26 or 38 as the angle between the carrier 29 and elevator tube i5 is changed The plate 32 at one side of the elevator tube !5 is provided with guiding means in the form of an arcuate plate in which is provided an arcuate slot t! (Figure 5). The mounting of the plate esen the plate 32 is accomplished by a curved I piece or strip 32 which is welded at 43 to the plate 4 3 and welded at M to the plate 32. Opposite end portions of the piece or strip 32 are curved to conform generally to the ends of the slot (Figure 5). The are of the slot 4| is substantially but in the present case not exactly formed about the axis of the pivot at 3%.

The position of the carrier 29 with respect to the elevator 55 and supporting structure I8 is controlled or adjusted by means including a first link 35 which is pivotally connected at #6 to the carrier 29 and which has its other end proximate to the arcuate guide plate 48. The connection at $55 is, of course, spaced from th pivot axis at 38. The connection of the other end of the link 45 to the guide plate til is accomplished by means including a pin T which passes outwardly through the arcuate slot ii. The outer end of the pin receives one end of a second link 48, the other end of which is pivoted at 39 to a short arm hi which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to an upper end portion of the member 13.

As' indicated in Figure 1, the shaft 36 may include a conventional clutch operated by a clutchcontrol handle by means of which the operator may engage or disengage the conveyor: 24'.

In operation, the elevator is set up generally as shown inFigui-e 1, subject to being elevated or depressed according to the requirements set up by the situation in which it is used. For example,

if it is desired to depress the elevator tube 15 so that the discharge end I9 is at a. lower level above the ground, the winding mechanism 2| will be operated to lower th derrick l 6. In this case, the angle as measured between the lower portion of the elevator'tube l5 and the member l3 will be increased. If the motor carrier 29 were mounted rigidly on the elevator tube l5, the motor would be tilted toward the wheels l2. In the present case, this undesirable tilting is avoided by thei control means including the links 4 5 and 48 and the guiding means 40. Hence, as the memher ['3 pivots in a counterclockwise direction about the. pivot M the short arm 5!) draws the links 45 and 45 in the same direction, thus maintaining the level of the engine 21. Conversely, when the elevator tube [5 is raised, the angle between the lower portion of the elevator tube I 5 and the member I3 is decreased and the linkage 4'5--48 is controlled to maintain the level of the carrier 29 and engine 27. The ends of the arcuate slot 4! and the related curved portions of the strip or piece 42 serve as stop means for limiting travel of the pin 4'! inopposite directions.

Further features and objects of the invention not specifically mentioned herein will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as likewise will numerous modifications and alterations in the preferred construction illustrated, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a material-handling device of the type including supporting structure, an elongated.- elevator carried by the supporting structure for adjustment thereof with respect to the supporting structure to incline the elevator at various angles to the horizontal, drivable means included in the elevator, and a power source for driving said means, the improvement comprising: a carrier having means to support the power source; means for mounting the carrier on the elevator, including a pivot on an axis generally parallel to the axis about which the angle of the elevator is adjusted; means including an arcuate guide carried by the elevator and disposed generally as an are formed about said carrier means pivot; a link connected at one end to the carrier and having its-other end guided by the arcuate guide means; and a second link connected to the first link and connectible to the supporting structure for moving' the first link in said guide means as the angle of the elevator is changed with respect to the supporting structure.

2. In a material-handling device of the type including supporting structure, an elongated elevator carried by the supporting structure soredjustment thereof with respect to the supporting structure to incline the elevator at various angles to the horizontal, drivable means included in the elevator, and a power source for driving said means, the improvement comprising: a carrier having means to support the power source; means for mounting the carrier on the elevator, includmg a pivot on an axis generally parallel to the axis about which the angle of the elevator is adjusted; means including an arcuate guide carried by the elevator and disposed generally as an are formed about said carrier means pivot; a link connected at one end to the carrier and having ts other end proximate to the arcuate guide means; a guide pin connected to said end of the link and received by the guide means; and a second link connected to the guide pin and 'connectible to the supporting structure for movin the first link in said guide means as the angle of the elevator is changed with respect to the supporting structure.

3. In a material-handling device including supporting structure, an elongated elevator carried by pivot means on the supporting structure for angular adjustment to accommodate elevation and depression of the elevator relative to the supporting structure, drivable means in the elevator, and a power element for driving said means, the improvement comprising: a mount for carrying the power element including means for connecting the mount to the elevator on a pivot axis adjacent and generally parallel to the aforesaid pivot means; arm means connected to the mount for swinging the mount about said pivot axis; link means connected at one end to the arm means and having provision at its other end for connection to the supporting structure at a point spaced from the aforesaid pivot means in a direction normal to the axis of said pivot means for moving the arm and thereby swinging the mount as the angle of the elevator is varied relative to the supporting structure; and arcuate guide means having provisions for attachment to the elevator and cooperative with the arm means for guiding the arm means when moved by said link means.

4. In a material-handling device including supporting structure, an elongated elevator carried by pivot means on the supporting structure for angular adjustment to accommodate elevation and depression of the elevator relative to the supporting structure, drivable means in the elevator, and a power element for driving said means, the improvement comprising: a mount for 6 carrying the power element including means for connecting the mount to the elevator on a pivot axis adjacent and generally parallel to the aforesaid pivot means; arm means connected to the mount for swinging the mount about said pivot axis; link means having at one end thereof a first connection to the arm means and having at its other end provision for connection thereof to the supporting structure at a point spaced from the aforesaid pivot means in a direction normal to the axis of said pivot means for moving the arm and thereby swinging the mount as the angle of the elevator is varied relative to the supporting structure, said first connection including a guide pin movable when the arm means is moved; and guide means having provision for attachment to the elevator and engageable with the guide pin for guiding the arm means when moved by said link means.

ROYAL L. BELDIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 287,769 Miller Oct. 30, 1883 2,395,410 Kaesler Feb. 26, 1946 2,460,661 Tintes Feb. 1, 1949 2,528,917 Slocum Nov. 7, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 814,196 France June 17, 1937 

